The Bumbling Blind Date(closed to Alex/pm to join)

[Arianna Blackthorn]

After two weeks of listening to one of her old acquaintance and now new friend Lyra needling her about dating, Arianna gave in. She would give dating a try again, after all it had been a while and she did not know that many people in town. Things were strained between her and her old friends. The people she knew with Curse...well it was awkward seeing them again. A wall of unanswered questions blocked the path between her and her old life in England. Her abrupt departure had ruffled many feathers, some that were still bent.

Reluctantly, Arianna agreed to go on a double date with Lyra's boyfriend's friend Alex something. The guy sounded nice enough, not that Lyra knew much about him, but it was only one date and Arianna had the right to kill Lyra if it went wrong. Besides, if things didn't work out romantically she might make a new friend.

Running late as usual, Ari walked into the small restaurant that had been the hardest place to get into little over two years ago. She had wanted to go there with Curse but it had never happened. Pushing those idle dreams aside, she walked in, head tall as she found her way through the dimly lit place. It was very romantic. Soft music drifted in the background as hundreds of candles floated in the air. There was a hush quiet as couples and small groups of couples huddled in small spaces, wrapped up in each other.

It didn't take Ari very long to spot the frantically waving Lyra, sitting next to her boyfriend. With a smile, Ari walked over taking the seat across from Lyra with her back to the door. Mr. Charming had yet to arrive.

[Alex Kameren]

If one asked Alex Kameren for a completely honest answer, he might have told them that he had dated only a few times. In point of fact, he could count the dates on one hand. On the other hand, Alex was never one who saw fit to inform others of these particular sorts of things, even when asked for perfect honesty. And in all perfect honesty, he was rather nervous about this entire thing.

He hadn’t asked for Theodore to set him up on this date. No, he had actually begged (Ok not begged, but close enough) for him not to include him in his plans. But Theodore had been adamant: his girlfriend wanted him to invite a friend from work to meet her friend-whatever-her-name-was, Theodore wasn’t sure. But she had told him to bring a friend to the double date and Alex was as good a choice as any. And, Alex suspected, Theodore also believed that if they didn’t hit it off, maybe Lyra would relieve him of any further date-choosing duty.

Alex was running slightly behind schedule, but he had stopped at the hospital after work to see Cain. For all the time he spent there even when not injured for some work-related reason, he ought to get some sort of hospital admit-anywhere badge. He wore only the black slacks and long-sleeved collared shirt he’d worn to work that morning. As a Kameren, he knew how to dress nicely, even if he didn’t always exercise that knowledge or use it in ways they approved of. Muggle clothing. Cedric would have had a fit.

Alex found this wayward thought rather amusing and was still smiling when he entered the dimly lit restaurant, manoeuvring through the floating candles, feeling a growing sense of discomfort as he finally reached the table where Theodore sat next to a young woman with bright blonde hair who was standing and waving her arms frantically -- perhaps worried he wouldn’t see them otherwise. He shook Theodore’s hand and greeted Lyra before turning to greet the other young woman he hadn’t gotten a good look at but who must be his date.

And halted in surprise as recognition flashed between them.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

At first, Arianna had thought Lyra was waving at yet another friend she knew in the restaurant. It seemed that the girl knew everyone in the wizarding world. Every few seconds she was waving at someone. Ari had turned around several times, thinking that the man Lyra was greeting was her date. Then out of nowhere a pretty little thing in the latest fashions would side step from thin air and dispel that notion. Eventually, Arianna gave up trying to ascertain the identity of her "date," she'd meet him as soon as he arrived. Surprise washed over Arianna as she watched a familiar lanky wizard with familiar brown hair greet her dinner partners with much familiarity.

As soon as he turned to face her, Arianna jumped up from her seat and enveloped Alex Kameren in a quick hug, not lingering for she knew he didn't like much physical contact.

"Alex Kameren! I'd never would have thought to see you in such a place." She pointed out with a teasing grin. It was really nice to see him again. She had felt guilty when she had left without a word. Alex was practically her own brother and she cared for him such. While she'd never admit it she saw a lot of herself in the younger Kameren.

"Are you here with someone?" She asked approval dancing in her eyes. She would never have thought that shy, blind to women, Alex would ever take a woman on a date here. Unless it was prearranged...Then it suddenly hit Arianna like a bludger to the stomach. He was her date...no...A quick glance at Lyra told Arianna everything. The blond socialite was watching with avid curiosity.

"I guess no introductions are needed then?" The imp like creature pointed out with a broad smile.

Arianna wanted to groan. She had been set up on a date with her ex-fiance's little brother. Oh this was rich. A bubble of laughter threatened to escape Arianna as she resumed her seat.

Two pairs of expectant eyes glanced between Alex and Ari, waiting for an explanation on why they know each other.

"I've known Alex for years....I umm.." there really was no way of getting around the fact, she might as well tell them. It wasn't a thing to be ashamed about. "engaged to his brother." She said a little quick, it was like ripping off a bandage. Soon she wouldn't even feel the sting. God this was weird. Funny, she'd always wanted to go to this place with Curse. Well she got her wish, she was here with a Kameren...just the wrong one.

"How are you doing Alex?"

[Alex Kameren]

"Alex Kameren! I'd never would have thought to see you in such a place."

"Are you here with someone?"

Alex tensed but accepted the hug, glad the woman disengaged as swiftly as she had wrapped her arms around him. He looked down at the brunette who had greeted him so warmly-- Arianna Blackthorn, his brother’s erstwhile fiancée. He’d often wondered where she’d gone, and why. He’d even hated her at times when Curse was particularly difficult, whether because she had taken the easy way out or that she could, he’d never been sure. Surely she couldn’t be his ‘date’ for the evening?

"I guess no introductions are needed then?"

The auror sent a desperate look at James Theodore, silently requesting that he help Alex get out of here. The look flew right over the bubbly Lyra’s head and crashed into James’ amused face, where it crumpled and dropped to the ground like a discarded napkin. Not getting any help from that direction, Alex could only sit, sliding his lanky form into the chair next to Arianna. The evening was not off to the best start.

"I've known Alex for years....I umm.." there really was no way of getting around the fact, she might as well tell them. It wasn't a thing to be ashamed about. "engaged to his brother."

Theodore raised an eyebrow, Lyra shrieked and began babbling some super-fast nonsense at Ari, and Alex groaned, slouching into his seat. He was hoping for something to happen. Perhaps a bell would fall from the ceiling and drop on Lyra, trapping her inside and providing silence for those around her. Even Theodore seemed slightly pained. Alex wondered at the idea that had come to him and thought perhaps he’d been spending too much time watching kid’s movies with Max. Bells that fell on people?

"How are you doing Alex?"

“Oh.” Brought back to reality, Alex attempted to be civil, though every instinct bred over years of intentionally avoiding this sort of social interaction screamed at him to run. “Well. I’…m fine.” His speech still suffered from those bedamned pauses and breaks, and those irritating moments when he mixed his words up, or said something completely opposite from his intentions. He gave a smile, one of his old ‘I’m not smiling because I want to’ smiles.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

The foolish hope that Alex would have any kind feelings toward her vanished when she pulled back and saw the hostility on his face. Merlin's knickers, how could she have been so obtuse? While Alex had been her friend of sorts in school and they had gotten along fairly well when she was dating his brother, she had hurt his family. And hadn't even explained why she'd left. He must think the worst of her since had no idea why or where she had gone.

All she had wanted was one date, it didn't have to be something that would last. But she hadn't thought she'd step into a mountain of dragon's dung. This was going to be a long night. It wasn't the place though, to explain why she had left, not in front of Lyra-running-mouth. Perhaps after dinner she would talk to Alex.

Warily, Arianna tried to pay attention to Lyra but the litany of why's marched through her brain, distracting her. Why did she agree to this date? Why hadn't she had the commonsense to ask about the guy? Why was fate torturing her? Why did she become friends with such a chatter box in the first place? Eventually the why questions bored Ari and she mumbled some encouraging sounding phrase to Lyra who just continued on her OHMYMERLINYOUDATEDCURSE KAMEREN THATHUNKYAUROR rant.

She needed a drink, especially after her attempt to make the evening nice backfired. Alex wasn't going to make this easy. Not that he ever was comfortable in social situations but with the added stress of her being his date, he'd retreat into his mind.

"Sorry, I didn't write. I don't have a pretty excuse to tell you why, but I couldn't stay." She said softly as the words poured out of her. Lyra quieted, watching the exchange with wide eyes.

"I saw him the other day, he looked much better." She again blurted out, trying to fill the awkwardness. Really, she shouldn't be saying anything. SHe knew she was trying to hard, this wasn't the way to reach him.

[Alex Kameren]

He’d known she was back in London, she worked at the Ministry again and more gossip got done than work sometimes. Still, though it was the Head Auror’s favorite joke to keep sending Alex down to Mysteries, he’d always managed to never come across her. Of course, he knew Arianna well enough to know she’d spend the majority of her time as deep in her research as it was possible to get.

He’d hated her at times, truth be told, but his hatred had always led to shame. For what kind of a brother was he, to be jealous of a woman, simply because she’d left? Alecsander’s family had never been stable, and when he’d finally accepted Curse as his brother, he hadn’t wanted to let go. And yet, when Curse was at his worst, he’d found himself wondering what it would feel like, to just walk out that door and not turn back.

And then he’d seen what Ari’s disappearance had done to Curse, sending him deeper on a darkening spiral, and he’d stayed. He was needed. Alex hadn’t been needed before, not even when Cain had been messing with Dark magic.

“Sorry, I didn't write. I don't have a pretty excuse to tell you why, but I couldn't stay." She said softly as the words poured out of her. Lyra quieted, watching the exchange with wide eyes.

"I saw him the other day, he looked much better."

“Yes.” Alex said briefly, then relented and elaborated. “Its bin hard, b--but he’s done it.”

((feel free to assume any mistakes I make while typing his speech are not mistakes but what he actually says.))

[Arianna Blackthorn]

God she felt like such a heel. Airanna hadn't thought about the consequences of her actions. When she had left she needed to get out of there overwhelmed by it all. She should have told Alex, should not have left him to deal with that mess by himself. He was so young to have to deal with that. She knew that now. Knew that she should have handled it differently but she had been so terrified. Then she lost the baby and she'd turned into herself, her only outlet her work.

"He's come around a lot. You've helped him. But how are you?" She asked a little worried that he was focusing too much on his brother and not on himself.

Arianna took a sip of her water as she waited for Alex to speak. His stutter almost made her sputter her own water. She quickly spit it back into her glass. Was Alex okay? She knew he was rather shy and anti social but he had never stuttered before. Arianna coughed

"Water down wrong pipe." She choked out trying not to draw attention to Alex's stammering speech. Had something happened to hurt his ability to talk?

"How's magical law enforcement these days?" She asked, again trying to put Alex at ease.

The other pair kept watching them but quickly they became absorbed in their own little romance. Everyone around them cooed like turtle doves. Just her luck she was trapped in the most romantic spot with someone who was practically her brother.

[Alex Kameren]

"He's come around a lot. You've helped him. But how are you?"

Alex made a motion that could have been irritation, a short wave of his hand that shooed away the importance of his own health. He’d never really cared much for anything outside his schoolwork, and then becoming an auror. He needed a focus, an outside influence that gave him an excuse to ignore everything and anyone who might be inconvenient or too persistent. He liked his solitude, it kept emotions at bay.

“Water down wrong pipe."

She coughed briefly before regaining control, Lyra spared a moment from cooing at Theodore (yuck) to express her concern. “OMGAREYOUOK??” but once she saw her friend was still breathing turned back to cooing at Theodore, who was cooing right back. Rather odd, seeing the big, stoic Auror cooing…

"How's magical law enforcement these days?" She asked, again trying to put Alex at ease.

“Busy. If its not demons its riots, and if its not rights its poisoned, hexed blood-pops.” He was immensely glad for a topic of conversation that turned away from himself or Curse.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

"Someone trying to kill the undead again? Ineffective because well there dead. No one human was hurt were they?" She asked concerned about the unknown individuals who could have been harmed by the hexed pops. Who would do such a thing and what spell did they use? Arianna was a curious person and if the hexed use had ancient origins maybe it could be useful.

"I've been hearing strange rumors lately, that there are demons lose in Hogsmeade, that suck the magic out of people. Can you tell me anything about them?" She pressed eager for information. She had no idea that the auror that had been injured was Alex Kameren. If there was one person who had the information she seeked it would be this man. It might take a bit of needling to get a few facts but he would give her something, even if it was just a warning.

[Alex Kameren]

"Someone trying to kill the undead again? Ineffective because well there dead. No one human was hurt were they?"

Alex shrugged, looking over at the couple, who were now feeding each other various tidbits they’d ordered for an appetizer. He hadn’t any more knowledge on the blood pops, it hadn’t been his case. It had just been one more bizarre instance in his short career as an auror, one more thing to add to the variances of the long days. “No human eats th…those things.”

"I've been hearing strange rumors lately, that there are demons lose in Hogsmeade, that suck the magic out of people. Can you tell me anything about them?"

He scowled, standing suddenly. This had all been a bad idea, from the very start. He didn’t know why he had allowed Theodore to drag him here-- didn’t know what he had expected. Not this, to be sure. Not the lovey-dovey couples and not Arianna Blackthorn.

It was rude to just leave. And while that may not have bothered him in the past, this time he looked down at her and invited her to come along. Perhaps she wanted out of there just as badly as he did, perhaps not, but she stood up and they exited the foolish restaurant. They walked nearly a block before he spoke. “Its not just Hogsmeade.” He waved a hand at the lowering sun. “No one sane goes out in the night anymore.” The sentences slipped out easily, as if to make up for his bumbling earlier. He let the fact that he went out in the night, as did his brother and those dedicated to protecting others; hang unsaid in the air between them.

No need for alarm, they had it under control. He hoped.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

She hadn't meant to upset him but she was curious about the demons. References to dark creatures was prevalent in her studies. every society seemed to have them. Maybe her studies could be of use? She wasn't sure and to find out she needed more information. Alex Kameren was a resource and hopefully he'd open up a bit. But it would probably take awhile. She had hurt his brother pretty badly. But she had been hurt too. They all had.

Arianna said her goodbyes to her friend and followed Alex outside. They walked in silence but it wasn't that awkward. It was actually, rather natural. Patiently she waited and was rewarded with a simple sentence.

"Are they lose in the muggle world too?" She asked a bit apprehensive as they walked the streets. Then she realized that there could be a hidden meaning behind his words. The Kamerens wouldn't allow a simple demon to stop them from going out.

"It was you. You're the person the demons attacked." She pointed out a bit surprised at her revelation. "Merlin, Kameren do you both go out hunting for them? Playing the hero. Now that he has no woman, to tie him down he thinks he can get himself killed by playing the bloody hero?"

[Alex Kameren]

"Are they lose in the muggle world too?"

“Oh no.” Alex dismissed the idea, a smile almost coming to his lips at the thought. No, the muggles were safe-- safe in their mundane lives, they lived on, unaware of the fight for survival that ebbed and flowed just beneath the surface of their world. If only things were so easy for the wizards and witches of magical England.

"It was you. You're the person the demons attacked."

He felt his temper flair, hearing the indignation, fear, pity in her voice. He stopped on the sidewalk, for a moment unable to speak as he stared at her and she ploughed ahead.

"Merlin, Kameren do you both go out hunting for them? Playing the hero. Now that he has no woman, to tie him down he thinks he can get himself killed by playing the bloody hero?"

“You…h’have no bloody idea wot you’re talkinng about.” He said viciously, his irregular speech only serving as punctuation. “Wot will you h’ave me do-- I-I’m a bloody auror, for merlinss sake, it’s my goddamn job to protect in--innocents!” He took a step closer, jabbing a finger at her face. “What, you think you’re the only o-one Curse Kameren can ever c-care about?” He moved closer again, staring down at her, using his height to advantage.

“You think you can just waltz off, then prance on in here and lay claim? He’s not yours anymore, Arianna Blackthorn! Curse has Max now, he doesn’t need cowardly, clutching women to come back, demanding what they gave up!” He stared at her for a few more moments, before spinning on his heel and stalking away.

His tirade over, a whirl storm of the feelings he kept inside had spilled over, finding target in the only person available-- Ari. And himself. He felt the anger and guilt, hurt and distrust and every other emotion, swirling inside, stirred to the surface by her little rant and his anger. He stood a few feet away, his back to her, taking a few deep breaths. Finally he lifted his head and started away.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

Bloody hell, she'd angered Alex again. She hadn't meant to sound so soft when she accused him of being the one injured. She had forgotten how sensitive he was. Poet soul, that one. He also didn't take kindly to her little rant about him and Curse being bloody nights. Aurors or not they were still human!

Then he had the gall to point out that she had no rights over Curse and he cared about someone named Max. Who was this person his gay lover? Or was Max a young woman...but Alex had said Curse didn't need a woman...or was she the only clutching woman? Arianna was not clutching! She hadn't been the one to suggest a coffee shop meeting. That had been all Curse.

" I AM NOT DEMANDING HIM BACK. CURSE KAMEREN CAN GO TO HELL WITH HIS GAY LOVER MAX FOR ALL I CARE." She shouted at the retreating Alex Kameren. She did not want to rekindle her relationship with Curse and maybe not even Alex.